Donald Trump is facing a massive shortfall of cash as he prepares to battle Hillary Clinton in this November's US election.
New figures show that she's outstripping his ability to raise money, and has ten times more full-time staff working on her campaign.
The news came just 24 hours after Mr. Trump panicked Republican leaders by suddenly firing his campaign manager.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports now on the implications of his relative campaign poverty.
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If there's one thing that Donald Trump has been consistent about during his highly inconsistent Presidential campaign….it's that he's rich.
Really rich.
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Heaven forefend the idea that he might be bragging.
At every stop on the campaign trail, Trump speaks of his wealth as a qualification for the Presidency.
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So it comes as something of a shock to discover that Donald Trump's campaign warchest is….well….financially challenged.
New figures compiled by the non-political Federal Election Commission have revealed a stunning disparity between the cash-in-hand available to Donald Trump, and the campaign finance available to Hillary Clinton.
His bank balance is down to $1.3 million.
Hers is up to 40 million dollars….and she appears to be outranking him in fundraising to the tune of almost 30 to 1.
A clear indication, say some political analysts, that donors are fleeing from the Trump campaign.
To which Donald Trump told NBC….I'll use my own money instead.
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Of course, Donald Trump can continue spending down his personal fortunes to support his Presidential aspirations.
But he will need extremely deep pockets.
Consider the fact that in one Congressional primary contest in Maryland, a candidate recently spent more than $10 million dollars on a campaign that failed ….and that was for a seat in the House of Representatives, not the keys to the White House.
Consider too that as the country hurtles towards November, local TV advertising rate-cards will rise, as station owners wait for Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton to out-spend one another in a bid to win hearts and minds.
And the money pays for organization too: Donald Trump has just 70 full-timers working on his campaign to Hillary Clinton's 700.
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Aaron Blake edits "The Fix", a political blog published by the Washington Post.
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It was a Republican Senator who not so long ago famously declared that money is the mother's milk of the American political process.
If you've got it, you don't necessarily win.
But without it, you really don't stand a chance.
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